I’ve by no means wished a United Airways bank card earlier than, however I need this one

I am an enormous fan of amassing transferable factors and miles, reminiscent of Chase Final Rewards factors, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors. I like the flexibleness of selecting when and the place to switch my rewards, particularly when issuers supply juicy switch bonuses.

Although I maintain some airline-branded bank cards, just like the underrated Aeroplan® Credit score Card, I have never been as concerned about being locked to at least one airline loyalty program.

I am not a daily United Airways flyer, and the United MileagePlus program will not be my default Star Alliance program (that may be Air Canada’s terrific Aeroplan program), partially as a result of I do not reside near a United hub. Subsequently, making use of for a United bank card and investing within the MileagePlus program has by no means been on the high of my listing … till now.

Along with this card’s advantages, the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) is at the moment providing its best-ever welcome bonus. For the primary time, I now desire a United-branded bank card.

Here is why.

United Quest Card best-ever welcome supply

New candidates of the United Quest Card can earn 100,000 bonus miles and three,000 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months their account is open. Primarily based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the bonus miles are price $1,300.

This beneficiant welcome bonus of 100,000 United miles is one which I may simply use for nice worth (extra on that in a bit).

I haven’t got United Premier (or any Star Alliance) elite standing, so 3,000 PQPs in my account can be a terrific head begin since that is 50% of the requirement for Premier Silver standing (a complete of 6,000 PQPs or 5,000 PQPs plus 15 Premier qualifying flights is required to safe Silver standing).

Notice that to qualify for United standing, you should take 4 United or United Categorical flights, even should you hit the PQP threshold.

This card additionally earns as much as 18,000 PQPs per calendar 12 months (1 PQP for each $20 spent on purchases may be utilized towards your Premier standing qualification, as much as the Premier 1K degree).

Premier Silver has a handful of perks, like bonus miles and entry to Financial system Plus seating at check-in.

The perks actually degree up whenever you attain Premier Gold standing, as members additionally qualify for Star Alliance Gold membership. For instance, since I repeatedly fly on Star Alliance airways, I may take pleasure in lounge entry at over 1,000 lounges worldwide earlier than a Star Alliance flight.

Since Premier Gold standing requires 12,000 PQPs or 10,000 PQPs plus 30 PQFs, I might be a fraction of the best way there.

Associated: 22 playing cards at the moment providing welcome bonuses of 100,000 factors or extra

Bonus miles for including a United card licensed person

My husband is not almost as obsessive about incomes factors and miles as I’m, so he is not concerned about making use of for his personal card and having to navigate his personal accounts and earning-and-redemption technique.

As an alternative, he would a lot moderately be an licensed person on my playing cards. I can handle the earning-and-redemption technique, and we will each take pleasure in the advantages, like luxurious holidays.

The United Quest Card card gives 10,000 bonus miles should you add a certified person to your account within the first three months after the account is open.

Not solely is that this a straightforward approach to maximize earnings on the cardboard via on a regular basis spending, however it’s also a straightforward manner so as to add 10,000 miles to my account.

Credit to offset the annual price

I anticipated a card with a 100,000-mile welcome bonus to come back with a excessive annual price. The United Quest Card as an alternative incorporates a midrange $350 annual price, much like the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, which solely gives a 75,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Nonetheless, if I am paying a $350 annual price annually, I am seeking to get actual worth from the cardboard past the one-off welcome bonus. I am impressed to see that even with out considering the worth of the miles earned, this card nonetheless has loads of methods to offset the price annually:

• $200 credit score: After account opening and every anniversary 12 months, cardholders will obtain $200 in United TravelBank money.
• As much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions: Routinely get a ten,000-mile low cost every cardholder anniversary (starting together with your first anniversary). You’ll be able to then earn one other 10,000-mile low cost after spending $20,000 in a calendar 12 months.
• Lodge credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in credit for Famend Accommodations and Resorts.
• Airline credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in JSX credit.
• Rental automobile credit score: Obtain as much as $40 every in United TravelBank money for the primary two Avis or Price range automobile leases booked via United Vehicles every account anniversary 12 months.
• Journey-hailing credit score: Obtain as much as $8 in month-to-month assertion credit for ride-hailing providers, plus a bonus of $4 (for a complete of $12) in December (yearly opt-in required).
• Seat upgrades: Earn two international Financial system Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases together with your card every calendar 12 months.
• Instacart credit score: Obtain one $10 and one $5 month-to-month Instacart credit score, plus a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (ends Dec. 31, 2027).
• International Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score: Obtain as much as a $120 credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.
• Inflight purchases: Obtain 25% again on United inflight purchases (contains Wi-Fi, meals and drinks).

Now, I doubt I might use each credit score supplied by the cardboard. For instance, I’ve by no means flown JSX and possibly by no means will, and due to an announcement credit score from one other card, I’ve already secured International Entry.

Nonetheless, even with one weekend away, I may see myself simply recouping the price of the annual price by:

• Reserving a $200 round-trip flight on United or United Categorical to make use of the United TravelBank money credit score
• Receiving 25% again on United inflight purchases by paying with the cardboard
• Staying at a Famend Accommodations and Resorts property at my vacation spot and paying with the cardboard to make use of the (as much as) $150 resort credit score
• Reserving an Avis or Price range automobile rental at my vacation spot to obtain (as much as) $40 in United TravelBank money

Free checked baggage on United

I do not fly United fairly often, but when I ebook a United or United Categorical flight on this card, my touring companion and I’ll obtain our first and second checked baggage totally free.

On condition that United elevated its checked bag charges to $40 for the primary bag and $50 for the second bag, this card perk can save me cash.

MileagePlus miles are extra useful and simpler to make use of than you would possibly suppose

Since United retired its award charts and switched to dynamic pricing, I have been cautious of transferring my Chase Final Rewards factors to MileagePlus, fearing there would not be good redemption alternatives.

Nonetheless, since I spend hours every week looking for good factors and miles offers, I’ve observed MileagePlus continues to supply wonderful award charges and availability. I’ve discovered loads of U.S. flights beginning at simply 5,000 miles plus $5.60 in charges and taxes.

I have been particularly happy about this summer time’s Polaris business-class award availability to Europe for simply 80,000 miles. There are tons of of flights you possibly can ebook for this worth from varied United hubs to Switzerland, Italy, Eire, Germany, the U.Ok. and the Netherlands, amongst different locations. I count on I might don’t have any hassle discovering an 80,000-mile flight to Europe both later this 12 months and even subsequent summer time.

Associated: Ebook United Polaris enterprise class to Europe for simply 80,000 miles: Fly to Italy, London and eight different locations

This card is not excellent

Whereas this card has many enticing options, I would not say it is excellent. Given the midrange annual price, I might like to see a few single-use United Membership lounge passes thrown in annually, which might make that weekend away to recoup the price of the annual price I discussed above even sweeter.

I take into account the ten,000-mile award flight low cost if I spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months to be like incomes a further 0.5 miles per greenback spent on the primary $20,000 per 12 months. On condition that I can earn a lot better multipliers on most classes on my transferable bank cards, this isn’t a function I am going to doubtless use.

There are additionally two improve certificates for Financial system Plus after spending $40,000 or extra with the cardboard in a calendar 12 months. On condition that Financial system Plus is only a regular financial system seat with additional legroom, that is an exceptionally weak perk for placing a lot spend on the cardboard throughout a whole 12 months. If the perk was as an alternative an improve to Premium Plus, United’s premium financial system providing, I’d take into account going for it. Nonetheless, I am not going to spend $40,000 on a card simply to get an extra-legroom seat.

As this card is issued by Chase, there’s additionally Chase’s 5/24 rule to remember.

Backside line

I by no means thought I might be contemplating a United-branded bank card, because it’s by no means been a program on my radar. I have been very pleased with Star Alliance associate Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, even redeeming Aeroplan factors to fly on United prior to now.

On condition that I used to be not too long ago accepted for the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs), I am not likely available in the market for one more card. However for the reason that United Quest Card is providing a best-ever supply that I may benefit from, I could apply for it.

The welcome bonus is large, and there are such a lot of assertion credit that I may simply recoup the price of the annual price in an extended weekend.

Associated studying: